Invest

Federal Reserve Aims to Reduce Home-Mortgage Disadvantage With Treasuries Federal Reserve officials are focused on driving down the spreads between U.S. Treasury yields and consumer and corporate loans, after cutting the main interest rate to almost zero failed to revive lending.

Gold May Advance for Eighth Year as Investors Seek the `Perfect Insurance' Gold, the best-performing metal in 2008, may appreciate for an eighth year as investors seek a refuge from declining interest rates at the same time that central banks inject more cash into the banking system.

Byron Wien Forecasts 33% Gain in S&P This Year, Rallies in Crude Oil, Gold Byron Wien, the investment strategist who predicted a recession would drive U.S. stocks lower last year, says the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index will rebound 33 percent in 2009 as the economy recovers.

MORE	Stocks On The Move

Columns

MICHAEL R. SESIT

Treasuries Swap for Flat-Panel TVs Can’t Last

For years, Americans have reveled in the bargains they got buying underwear, plastic toys, video recorders -- you name it -- all made in China. The purchases kept China’s factories humming and its masses employed. In return, China financed the buying spree by lending America the money, investing in Treasuries and other U.S. assets.

MORE MICHAEL R. SESIT 

JOE MYSAK

Market Burns While Schools Keep Fiddling With Swaps

Swaps live.

MORE JOE MYSAK 

JOHN F. WASIK

Good, Bad and Ugly Ways to Raise Some Quick Cash

If you thought things were getting tight last month, get ready for the big squeeze.

MORE JOHN F. WASIK